Senior News

Class of 2020 loses out on all activities With the school building closed, not only are activities cancelled, but seniors will have to wait to get yearbooks, transcripts and diplomas

The class most affected by the Coronavirus quarantine is the class of 2020. As the date of our return to school kept getting pushed back, more and more senior events got cancelled.

When Superintendent Alberto Carvalho finally made the announcement that school would remain closed for the rest of the year, the entire senior class let out a collective groan. There went Grad Bash, there went Prom and there went the culmination of all their hard years of work...Graduation.

Some of these activities had already been paid for and will therefore be refunded. At a Zoom coffee chat with seniors, Principal Nery Fins updated everyone on what is going to happen with senior events. Natalia Fernandez Editor IG: ohitsnaat

Grad Bash

Senior coach Catherine Sanabria sent out ConnectEd phone calls to those who paid for Grad Bash. Students must email her with their correct mailing address. Refund checks will be made out to students and sent to the address 6 thevipervibe@gmail.com

submitted. Prom

Prom, which was going to be 1920s Great Gatsby themed, was cancelled, but since tickets had not gone on sale yet, no refunds were necessary. Fins did mention that there could be another alternative activity.

One suggestion was a Senior Summer Send-Off which would be scheduled later in the summer and would be a day of fun for the seniors. Graduation

In an announcement, Superintendent Carvalho stated that all high schools will have a virtual graduation. Varela’s graduation will take place on June 10 at 9:00 a.m. There is hope that later in the year there may be an actual graduation, therefore cap and gowns are scheduled to be picked up on May 26-27.

Students that had not purchased their cap and gown yet will have to contact Activities Director Jen Gambale in order to get their clearance form before contacting Herff Jones to make an appointment to get them. The packet will also contain the diploma cover. Each senior’s picture will be showcased as well as their name, so even if some seniors didn’t take their official yearbook pictures, they will still be acknowledged.

Eventually, the gowns must be returned to the school, but seniors are allowed to keep their cap, tassel any cords and their stole.

Because graduation will be virtual, the annual graduation video will not be available. This is normally a fundraiser for WVHS News, Varela's digital video production program. Their other fundraiser, the Senior Memories

Video, will be given for free to students via a download. Information will be posted on the @varelavipertv Instagram and on the Activities page. A list of seniors cleared for graduation went up on the Varela website on May 21 with an updated list following on May 25. Senior Documents Seniors that need to send their transcripts to colleges can email the registrar Sandra Gudas and they will be sent electronically. The final transcripts won't be available until after July 1.

Distribution of yearbooks is still being discussed as is the official pick up of diplomas. Senior are encouraged to keep in touch with Varela through social media as announcements will be made about any late senior activities.